Could This Be Caused By Gluten?

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I've recently made the decision to start going gluten-free after realizing that I am most likely very gluten sensitive and that my fibromyalgia could be a possible misdiagnosis.

Anyway, about three years ago, inexplicably, I started to get a rash under my armpits. At first I thought it was ringworm - it certainly looked like it (but it was just how it was positioned). It was terribly itchy and red and as I scratched it I would make tiny cuts in the irritiated skin - leading to a cycle of more irritated skin and itchiness, etc.

I went to the dermatologist and she said it was just contact dermatitis, and to just switch my deodorant to a fragrance-free one, as well as soap, and it should heal up. It kind of did, to the point where it definitely isn't as red or as itchy as it used to be - my armpits just look like normal armpits.

But whenever I put on deodorant (I try to use Tom's Natural Fragrance-Free) my skin will still be irritated and itchy, but it won't get red. Or if I shave my armpits, even if I use a boatload of hot water and fragrance-free soap and a nice razor.

As a result, I try to not use deodorant unless I'm leaving the house, and I don't shave my armpits everytime I am in the shower (thank god for fair hair).

But could this random irritation that has come on be a cause of gluten sensitivity? I know it can cause rashes, so I assume it could cause random skin irritations like this.

I've recently made the decision to start going gluten-free after realizing that I am most likely very gluten sensitive and that my fibromyalgia could be a possible misdiagnosis.

Anyway, about three years ago, inexplicably, I started to get a rash under my armpits. At first I thought it was ringworm - it certainly looked like it (but it was just how it was positioned). It was terribly itchy and red and as I scratched it I would make tiny cuts in the irritiated skin - leading to a cycle of more irritated skin and itchiness, etc.

I went to the dermatologist and she said it was just contact dermatitis, and to just switch my deodorant to a fragrance-free one, as well as soap, and it should heal up. It kind of did, to the point where it definitely isn't as red or as itchy as it used to be - my armpits just look like normal armpits.

But whenever I put on deodorant (I try to use Tom's Natural Fragrance-Free) my skin will still be irritated and itchy, but it won't get red. Or if I shave my armpits, even if I use a boatload of hot water and fragrance-free soap and a nice razor.

As a result, I try to not use deodorant unless I'm leaving the house, and I don't shave my armpits everytime I am in the shower (thank god for fair hair).

But could this random irritation that has come on be a cause of gluten sensitivity? I know it can cause rashes, so I assume it could cause random skin irritations like this.

Thanks~

DH is a skin manifestation of Celiac. You don't get it if you don't have Celiac.

It sounds like you know what causes this rash or irritation - deodorant and shaving. It isn't happening in other places when you eat gluten. In fact, you aren't linking it to gluten at all. Try a different active ingredient in a deodorant? Maybe switch to a mineral/crystal deodorant?

My husband gets terrible looking armpits with the wrong deoderant. It also looks like a big ring. I think it manifests that way because that is the part that naturally is rubbing on each other when you move your arms, so it exacerbates it. Sometimes it isn't the fragrance, it could be another ingredient. That plus the constant friction can equal a long term problem.

Like kareng said, you have not given anything that would indicate to me it is caused by gluten. DH could probably manifest on armpits, but I don't think that is what you have. However, if you feel better not eating gluten, continue to do that and listen to your body. But like they were telling you in the other thread, do find yourself a doctor and get medically evaluated as soon as you can.

Believe it or not, Milk of Magnesia makes a GREAT deodorant. COMPLETELY kills any odor and is very mild on the skin. I keep a bottle with just a tiny pin hole in the foil seal, and I put it on an old powderpuff to apply. It takes a few minutes to dry, but it's worth it not to be putting aluminium and other nasty chemicals on my skin.

A huge amount of people react to things in body care products such as deodorant, and that is not celiac related. People with Celiac do not react to gluten in body products- that would be a seperate allergy and is extremely rare. Generally, Celiacs avoid gluten in products that could get in their mouth only.

Yes it could. I had a rash in my pits for a good 10 years before concluding that I have DH.

Hopefully you have seen a doctor and have not come to this conclusion yourself. You need to have a biopsy done to be for certain.

JennaQ, it sounds like you are reacting to something in the products and your armpit skin issues are not related to gluten. Keep trying different products, and remember that even if something says all natural, hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested, etc... it can still cause skin irritation and reactions if you are prone to it.

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Fibromyalgia is a very good reason to try going gluten free. But you need to be tested for celiac first. Make sure they run all the tests. If you improve on a gluten free diet it will be really hard to go back on it to be tested. I was told I had fibromyalgia and all those symptoms pretty much went away when I went gluten free. I have minor issues here and there but they really flare when I get glutened.

I refused to accept fibromyalgia as a diagnosis from my doctor. I feel that it is a name given to a group of symptoms that a doctor couldn't (or was to lazy to) figure out the cause. My gastroenterologist agreed with me, but you should of seen the look on his face when I told him I felt giving someone a diagnosis was IBS was basically the same.

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I refused to accept fibromyalgia as a diagnosis from my doctor. I feel that it is a name given to a group of symptoms that a doctor couldn't (or was to lazy to) figure out the cause. My gastroenterologist agreed with me, but you should of seen the look on his face when I told him I felt giving someone a diagnosis was IBS was basically the same.

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